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INSTAY STUDIO
Amid the tree-lined lanes of Taipei’s Minsheng Community, a fifty-year-old residence has been meticulously transformed. Once weathered by time, the former home has been reimagined as the contemplative workspace of INSTAY STUDIO—a place where spatial clarity and temporal stillness converge. The spatial sequence is carefully choreographed: from the public street, one passes through a courtyard before gradually arriving at the heart of the studio. This transition—deliberate and rhythmic—unfolds within an open yet layered plan, where the soft crunch of gravel underfoot signals a slowing of pace and a gentle shift inward. Movement through the space invites introspection; the architecture, restrained and poised, evokes tranquility rather than spectacle.
At the heart of the design lies a contemporary interpretation of Eastern spatial philosophy, drawing from the Japanese concept of Ma—the intentional void that allows time, air, and silence to sculpt the experience of space. This principle governs the atmospheric layering of the main interior. The original boundary fence at the entry has been removed, leaving behind a single cast-iron grille—an artifact of memory from the building’s previous life. A tiered platform clad in tatami-textured surfaces introduces subtle shifts in elevation. At its center, a freestanding feature wall references the spatial logic of a traditional Chinese study hall, where the raised platform denoted the speaker’s position and the lower level the audience—evoking a classical setting of structured discourse. This composition is framed by a translucent bamboo screen, offering glimpses into the inner conversations of the studio.
Light played a central role in the renovation. Existing façade openings were preserved to maximize natural illumination. Internally, the spatial axes subtly pivot, extending sightlines and encouraging fluid visual connectivity. Along two primary walls, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry is clad in translucent shoji panels, gently diffusing daylight throughout the space. This is enhanced by layered indirect lighting, producing a nuanced interplay of brightness and shadow. Natural interventions further blur the boundary between inside and out: a dragonfly-inspired kinetic sculpture animates the courtyard, while a peeled-bark column—echoing the adjacent street trees—extends the space rhythmically, infusing it with quiet, meditative tension.
The open axial layout embodies the studio’s ethos of permeability and exchange. By dissolving thresholds and traditional demarcations, the design softens the boundary between workspace and neighborhood, creating a porous environment where creativity and community intersect. Materially, the intervention juxtaposes industrial precision with poetic restraint: stainless steel grilles span the ceiling, USM modular units anchor the space, and Isamu Noguchi’s AKARI light sculptures offer luminous counterpoints. A subdued palette of earthy neutrals reflects the designer’s two decades of experience—rooted in accumulated knowledge, yet projecting a grounded optimism for the path ahead. In an ever-evolving discipline, this is a space shaped by clarity, patience, and intent.
